SOUTH DAKOTA COURT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
A Systemic Approach to Probation Supervision
Court Services Statewide Staff
Unified Judicial System (UJS) under the direction of the South Dakota Supreme Court. State Court Administrator ◦ Director of Trial Court Services Court Services Program Coordinator 7 Chief Court Services Officers 3 Deputy Chief Court Services Officers 84 Regular Caseload Court Services Officers 14 Juvenile Intensive Court Services Officers 3 Adult Intensive Court Services Officers 11 Drug/DUI Court Services Officers 8 Drug/DUI Court Specialist 1 MSA Court Services Office 32 Support Staff 163 Total Court Services Field Staff
UNIFIED JUDICIAL SYSTEM Organizational Chart
Circuit Boundary Map
South Dakota Judicial Circuits and Counties
CORSON
DEWEY
ZEIBACH
STANLEY
HAAKON
JONES
JACKSON
LYMAN
MELLETTE
TRIPP
TODD
SULLY HYDE HAND
POTTER FAULK
WALWORTH EDMUNDS
McPHERSON
BUFFALO
BRULE
SANBORN
GREGORY
CHARLESMIX
MARSHALL
DAY
SPINK
CLARK CODINGTONGRANT
BEADLE
DEUEL
KINGSBURY
MINER
TURNER
LINCOLN
CLAY
YANKTONBONHOMME
DOUGLAS
UNI
ON
HUGHES
JERAULD
BENNETT
CAMPBELL
76
5
3
4
1
2
New Circuit Boundaries Effective 7/1/2000
Court Services History
Court reorganization occurred in 1975 ◦ Court Services was developed as a statewide probation service. Functions included: ◦ Juvenile probation supervision
◦ Preparation of social case histories
◦ 90 day diversion services
◦ Community service ◦ Juvenile interstate compact (outs)
◦ DOC aftercare services
Court Services History (cont.)
◦Adult Services were added in 1976 ◦Court Services started in 1975 with 41.5 FTE’s. ◦Today there are 163 FTE’s.
Court Services Timeline
Juvenile Services July 1977 – Court Services took on the
alternative care program & DOC aftercare transferred to Parole Services
July 1988 – DOC aftercare services
returned to Court Services
Court Services Timeline (cont.)
Juvenile Services (cont.) July 1989 – Court Services took on
interstate compact (IN) cases July 1996 – Alternative Care transferred
to DOC (Homebased Services retained by Court)
July 1997 – Intensive Probation Services
Court Services Timeline (cont.)
Adult Services July 1977 – Felony PSI, Felony Probation,
Restitution, Community Service
July 1978 – Misdemeanor PSI, Misdemeanor Probation
October 1987 – Interstate Compact
Court Services Timeline (cont.)
1988 – Case Service Monitoring, Intensive Probation Services
2002 – Movement Initiated Toward Implementation of Evidence Based Practices
2002 – Risk Assessment Implementation
2006 – Motivational Interviewing
2007 – Automated Call-In System 2013 – South Dakota Public Safety Improvement
Act (SB70)
Mission Statement
Our mission is to serve the citizens of the State of South Dakota by
preventing crime and repairing the harm caused by crime through public
safety and crime prevention in the community, accountability and
opportunity for positive change of the offender, justice for the victim, and
respectful treatment for all involved.
Strategies of Court Services
1. Safety and Crime Prevention in the Community: Offenders are to be supervised so appropriate interventions can prevent criminal activity.
2. Accountability by Enforcing Court-Ordered Sanctions: Offenders are permitted to remain in the community if they comply with certain conditions (including financial obligations, treatment obligations, etc.)
Strategies of Court Services(cont.)
3. Assisting Offenders to Change: Offenders should be given the opportunity to participate in activities to become productive and law abiding citizens.
4. Restoring Crime Victims: Consistent with South Dakota public policy, victims will be afforded rights to be involved in the justice system and may receive restitution for their losses.
What is a Court Services Officer?
Court Services Officers: 1.Conduct predispositional and presentence
investigation reports with recommendations to the Judge for dealing with juvenile and adult offenders who may be placed on probation. In preparation, court services officers take into account: ◦ public safety ◦ victim and community restoration ◦ Identification of ways to increase an offender's skills so they can be productive citizens
What is a Court Services Officer?
Court Services Officers (cont.): 2. Provide in-state probation supervision for
adults & juveniles
3. Provide interstate compact supervision for adults & juveniles transferring in from another state
4. Provide counseling and/or community referral services to those placed on probation
What is a Court Services Officer?
Court Services Officers (cont.):
5. Work with various government agencies and private providers
6. Offer intensive probation and community based services as an alternative to committing individuals to the Department of Corrections
Court Services Caseloads FY 2011
Juveniles ◦ 588 Social Case Studies ◦ 2800 Placed on Regular Probation ◦ 454 Placed on Case Service Monitoring
Adults ◦ 2477 Presentence Investigations (Felony) ◦ 227 Presentence Investigations (Misdemeanor) ◦ 1573 Placed on Felony Probation ◦ 675 Placed on Misdemeanor Probation ◦ 1365 Placed on Case Service Monitoring
Court Services Caseloads FY2012
Juveniles ◦ 466 Prehearing Social Case Studies ◦ 2332 Placed on Regular Probation ◦ 322 Placed on Case Service Monitoring
Adults ◦ 2608 Presentence Investigations (Felony) ◦ 214 Presentence Investigations (Misdemeanor) ◦ 1708 Placed on Felony Probation ◦ 680 Placed on Misdemeanor Probation ◦ 876 Placed on Case Service Monitoring
Court Services Programs
JUVENILE INTENSIVE PROBATION PROGRAM
◦ Developed in 1996 Three positions (Yankton, Mitchell, Aberdeen) 9 month pilot program
◦ Lost funding after 9 months; however, outcome measures proved the program worked.
Court Services Programs
JUVENILE INTENSIVE PROBATION PROGRAM (cont.)
July 1, 1999, the intensive program took life again and a fourth position was added in Rapid City.
In 2000, four additional Intensive Officers were approved; adding to Aberdeen & Rapid City and expanding to Sioux Falls and Vermillion.
Court Services Programs
Juvenile Intensive Probation Program (cont.)
In May 2001, an additional position was added in the 4th Circuit (covering Butte, Meade, & Lawrence Counties).
Later in 2001, the UJS was awarded a grant from
the Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention. This expanded the program to Brookings, Sisseton, and Lake Andes.
Court Services Programs
Juvenile Intensive Probation Program (cont.)
In 2008, a new juvenile intensive position was
added in Pierre. Since July 2008, the Juvenile Intensive Probation
Program consists of 14 FTE’s. These positions have been paid by general funds since FY 2003.
Juvenile Intensive Probation Program Description
Juvenile Intensive Probation Program (cont.)
Designed around the Balanced Approach to Restorative Justice Model
Maximum caseload of 10 juveniles
Four phases of the program
Juvenile Intensive Probation Program Description (cont.)
Phase I - Assessment Phase – (minimum of one month) Juvenile placed on monitored house arrest Probation plan developed addressing mental
health, education, family, and chemical dependency issues.
Phase II – Implementation Phase - (minimum of four months) Probation plan becomes operational and re-
enforced through intensive contacts (5/week) by the CSO.
Juvenile Intensive Probation Program Description (cont.)
Phase III – Step-Down Phase - (minimum of one month) ◦ The child/family have developed a dependency
with the supervision & empowerment. Transitioned to standard probation. Contact reduced to 2/week by CSO.
Phase IV – Non-intensive – (minimum of 3 months & maximum of nine months) ◦ After completion of phases I, II, & III, the
juvenile is transferred to a non-intensive Court Services Officer’s caseload for regular supervision.
Juvenile Intensive Probation Program Stats
FY 2009 ◦ Active Cases: 303 ◦ Committed to DOC: 94 ◦ Success Rate: 69%
FY 2010 ◦ Active Cases 329 ◦ Committed to DOC: 82 ◦ Success Rate: 75%
Juvenile Intensive Probation Program Stats (continued)
FY 2011 ◦ Active cases: 327 ◦ Committed to DOC: 108 ◦ Success Rate: 67%
FY 2012 ◦ Active Cases: 302 ◦ Committed to DOC: 84 ◦ Success Rate: 72%
Additional Court Services Programs
Ongoing efforts to work with CHINS cases ◦ Connecting Point Program ◦ Other After School Programs
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative - (JDAI) Development of adult community based services
Quote
Thomas White refers to the adage,
“if you always do what you have always done,
you will always get what you have always
gotten”.
Another Great Quote
Dr. Edward Latessa, PhD –
“What Works is not a program or an intervention, but a body of
knowledge based on over thirty years of research that has been conducted by numerous scholars in North America and Europe”.
What Works Philosophy
The Direction of Court Services
Principles of Effective Probation Supervision
Evidence-based practices support our claim that we are doing our best to promote public safety.
Evidenced based probation practices are
supported by research showing a reduction in recidivism rates when these principles are implemented.
Key Principles of Effective Probation Supervision
Effective supervision must address the following:
1. Criminogenic Risk 2. Criminogenic Need 3. Responsivity 4. Relapse Prevention Strategies
Summary For Principles of Effective Probation Supervision
Application of the Risk Principle will help
identify who should be receiving treatment.
The Criminogenic Need Principle focuses
on what should be treated.
Summary For Principles of Effective Probation Supervision (cont.)
The Responsivity Principle underscores the
importance of how treatment should be delivered.
Relapse Prevention Strategies
LSI-R & YLS/CMI Risk Assessments
for Adults & Juveniles
Level of Risk & Needs (Medium & High Cases)
Admin/Low Cases
Other Developing Community
Based Programs
Call-In Supervision Identify Criminogenic Needs
Supervision Strategies
Probation Plans
Appropriate Treatment
Motivational Interviewing
Other Developing Community
Based Programs
Behavior Modification
Quality Control
UJS Movement Toward Evidenced Based Probation
UJS Movement Toward Evidence Based Probation (cont.)
Most effective programming to assist high risk offenders in overcoming criminogenic needs are behavioral in nature.
Validated and normed juvenile & adult
risk needs instrument (LSI-R and CLS/MI). ◦ Target offenders with a higher risk score due to having a higher probability for recidivism.
UJS Movement Toward Evidence Based Probation (cont.)
More intensive services for the lower risk offender may increase recidivism for the offender.
Quality Control component to ensure proper
application of the risk instrument. Automated Call-In System for Administrative
& Low Cases.
Quote
Thomas White –
“Improving the behavior of someone who was probably
going to cause harm has more value than monitoring
the behavior of someone who was probably going to do well
anyway”.
UJS Movement Toward Evidence Based Probation (cont.)
Probation Change Plans are completed on all Medium, High, & Intensive Risk Offenders.
◦ Separate from the Court Order. ◦ Single sentence goals for change identified through the risk & needs instrument.
UJS Movement Toward Evidence Based Probation (cont.)
Cognitive/Behavioral Programs ◦ Behavioral intervention is the most effective. ◦ Focus on what factors influence the offender’s behaviors. ◦ Offender’s behaviors must be reinforced appropriately.
UJS Movement Toward Evidence Based Probation (cont.)
Probation Strategies: ◦ Behavior Modification ◦ Appropriate Treatment ◦ Motivational Interviewing ◦ Other developing community based programs